Hogan’s tremendous form continues with another Dundalk double

Tipperary Racing Scene

Mount Frisco made it two wins in under two weeks, easily accounting for his opposition in the hurdle forming part of the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series at Clonmel on Thursday.

At Gowran Park just twelve days earlier, the same horse had won over fences for Templemore trainer John Ryan and Cork jockey Daniel King.

Mount Frisco led or disputed a steady tempo for the first half of the two-mile race. He appeared to be going better than his principal rival, the 7-4 second favourite Is Charlie Around, who exited at the second last flight. A straightforward pop of the final hurdle and the race was won by the 11-10 favourite.

The win placed King with a clear lead by twenty points in the series which concludes at the end of April with a tidy €10,000 going to the winning jockey.

The series offers bonuses across a series of races for trainers that did not train 50 winners or more the previous season. Philip Rothwell is clear in the trainers’ section. There are sixteen more races to contest before the series concludes towards the end of April.

Trainer Denis Hogan and young apprentice Reese Holohan have been a potent combination over the winter at Dundalk and the pair combined with another winner last Friday via The Liffey in the six-furlong claiming race which opened the programme.

The Liffey began his career winning races for Aidan O’Brien so dropping to the claiming grade has meant much weaker competition than what he was facing before. This was his second consecutive win at this level – he scored by a neck at odds of 16-5 - and he was dropping back in distance to a sprint from a mile.

Laois teenager Holohan said on Racing TV post-race: “Denis gave me my first three winners and it’s great to get another one for him. He has been very good to me. I have had a great winter here. It has been a good way to start and hopefully there are many more to come.”

Winning owner James McAuley was also interviewed, saying: “We have plenty of runners in claimers and Denis trains them for us. We don’t have lofty expectations for them. My uncle Jim Gough is a big part of our team and he hasn’t been well so hopefully this cheers him up.

“There is nothing like a winner and it’s good for him to lead them back in. We bought this horse for seven grand in England and he has won twice now. Maybe someone else will step in for him.”

Hogan doubled up in the second race, the six-furlong maiden, when his Oxford Circus, carrying the colours of the Premier Racing Club, led right on the line to edge a three-way photo finish under Elizabeth Gale at odds of 11-1.

The English apprentice was completing the remarkable feat of winning on each of three Flat rides in Ireland to date – one last year for Joseph O’Brien in the Ladies’ Derby and the other for Hogan two weeks prior, also at Dundalk, on Sporting Hero.

“The penny is dropping with this horse. He has improved with each run,” Gale said.

“Thanks to Denis for the ride. I am very grateful to him. I have a dual licence. I had a spin over hurdles last week at Thurles, too, and I loved it!”

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Naas - Wednesday, March 4th (first race 2.20pm)

Thurles - Thursday, March 5th (first race 1.58pm)

Dundalk - Friday, March 6th (first race 4.37pm)

Gowran Park - Saturday, March 7th (first race 2.13pm)

Naas - Sunday, March 8th (first race 2.20pm)